Phil Schiller to Testify in Second Apple, Samsung Patent Trial

Just as it did in its first U.S. patent infringement trial against Apple, Samsung will be calling the company's senior vice president of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller to the stand. The trial over allegations that the two companies are infringing on each other's mobile device patents is set to start in March and Samsung is hoping for an outcome that's in its favor after taking a sound beating during the first time around.

Samsung to call Apple VP Phil Schiller to testify at new patent trial

Samsung said in a witness list filing on Thursday,

Mr. Schiller will be called to testify regarding design, development, promotion, marketing, advertising, consumer demand for, and sales of the iPhone, iPad, iPod, and other Apple products, including the features accused of infringing the Samsung feature patents, the smartphone and tablet markets, the Apple brand and Apple’s marketing and advertising efforts.

Apple vice president of iPhone and iOS marketing Greg Joswiak is on the list, too, but Samsung hasn't committed to putting him on the stand. Samsung also has Apple's vice president of procurement Tony Blevins, vice president of human interface Gregory Christie, and chief IP lawyer Bruce Watrous on its witness list, according to PC World.

This trial has the potential to play out much like its predecessor. Both Apple and Samsung are accusing each other of infringing on their mobile device patents, although this case covers models that weren't included in the original case. That trial resulted in a landslide victory for Apple with a jury handing over a verdict that said Apple didn't infringe on any of Samsung's, but Samsung infringed on a long list of Apple's patents.

The jury awarded Apple over US$1 billion in damages, but that was later reduced to a figure over $900 million after it was determined that part of the original value had been improperly calculated.

Apple and Samsung have been fighting in courts around the world over claims that they are infringing on each other's patents. So far, Samsung hasn't been able to win any serious victories, and if the electronics maker continues with its same court room tactics, it may not have much luck this March.

The Mac Observer Spin The Mac Observer Spin is how we show you what our authors think about a news story at quick glance. Read More →

It's no surprise that Samsung is calling Mr. Schiller to the stand. That's what happened during the first infringement trial where Samsung was soundly beaten, and failing to call him as a witness would be a surprise -- that's just business as usual in court.